NameMary Ryland 
Birth8 Oct 1741
Deathbef 1827
ResidenceEssex County, Virginia
Documentation
“Mary Ryland Daughter of Joseph & Elizabeth Ryland was born Octr. ye 8th 1741” [Ryland Family Bible, Library of Virginia, Accession Number 20514.]
Mary Ryland was mentioned in her father Joseph Ryland’s 1771 will as Mary Hunley. She received a cow, a calf, a ewe and a lamb. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 12, page 487.]
On 16 March 1773, in the case of Messrs. Richards and Lang, plaintiffs, against Mary Hundley Admrx. &c. of Ambrose Hundley decd., defendant, “This day came the parties aforesaid by their Attorneys, and the references returned their report in the words and figures following ‘In obedience to the Order of Essex County Court hereunto annex’d, We have settled & adjusted the Accts. of Messrs. Richards and Land agt. the Admrx. of Ambrose Hundley decd., and find the sum of Fifty four pounds four shillings & nine pence farthing due to the said Richards & Lang from the sd. Administratrix. Given under our hands this 15th Sepr. 1772 Archibald Ritchie, Thomas Roane, Chs. Mortimer’ Therefore it is considered by the Court that the Plaintiffs recover against the defendant the aforesaid Sum of Fifty four pounds four shillings & nine pence farthing according to the above award, and also their Costs by them about their Suit in this behalf expended. To be Levied on the proper Goods and Chattels which were of the decedent at the time of his death if she hath so much thereof in her hands to be administered, and if she hath not so much then the Costs aforesaid to be Levied on the proper Goods and Chattels of the Defendant.” [Essex County, Virginia, Order Book 28, page 162.]
On 20 September 1773, in the case of James Emerson, Plaintiff, against Mary Hundley Admrx. &c. of Ambrose Hundley decd., Defendant, “The Defendant being arrested and not appearing altho’ solemnly called, On the motion of the Plaintiff by his Attorney Judgment is granted him against the said Defendant for what shall be recovered unless &c.” [Essex County, Virginia, Order Book 29, page 107.]
On 19 October 1773, in the case of Martha Middleton Admrx. &c. of Alex. Middleton decd., Plaintiff, against Mary Hundley Admrx. &c. of Ambrose Hundley decd., Defendant, “This day came the plaintiff by her Attorney and the Defendant being agains solemnly called came not; the order of the last Court is therefore confirmed, and it is ordered that the plaintiff’s damages by ascertained by a Jury at the next Court.” [Essex County, Virginia, Order Book 29, page 129.]
On 22 February 1774, in the case of Martha Middleton Admrx. &c. of Alex. Middleton deced, Plaintiff, against Mary Hundley Admrx. &c. of Ambrose Hundley deced, Defendant, “This day came the Plaintiff by her Attorney and thereupon came also a Jury (to wit) James Booker Foreman &c. who being elected tried and sworn well and truly to enquire of the Plaintiff’s damages on their oath do say that the Plaintiff hath sustained damages by means of the said Ambrose Hundley deceased’s breach of the promise and assumption in the Declaration specified to Six Pounds and nineteen shillings besides her Costs: Therefore it is considered by the Court that the Plaintiff recover against the Defendant her damages aforesaid by the Jurors aforesaid in form aforesaid assessed and also her Costs by her about her Suit in this behalf expended. To be Levied on the proper Goods and Chattels of the said Ambrose Hundley decd. in the hands of the Defendant if she hath so much thereof, otherwise the Costs aforesaid to be Levied on the proper goods and Chattels of the Defendant. [Essex County, Virginia, Order Book 29, page 187.]
On 21 February 1826, a complaint was filed in the Chancery Court of Essex County by orators & oratrices John Minter & Ann his wife, Robt Mann & Susan his wife, Peter Campbell & Mary his wife, Fontaine Wood, and Ambrose, John, Thomas & Sarah Hunley infants under the age of twenty one years by Elizabeth Hundley their Guardian and next friend, & Josiah Ryland, stating that in 1825 Richard Ryland had died intestate leaving no children and petitioning for the division of his estate. Numerous amendments and affidavits were filed during the course of the case. Papers filed state that Richard left heirs Peter Campbell and Mary R. his wife who was Mary Hundley, Ambrose Hundley, Robert Mann (who died between the decree on 19 Febraury 1827 and the division of the estate on 14 June 1827) and Susan D. his wife who was Susan Hundley, Mary and Thomas Wood, children of Fontaine Wood and Anne H. his wife, deceased, who was Anne H. Hundley, Richard Hundley, John Hundley, Thomas Hundley, and Sarah Hundley, the said Mary, Ambrose, Susan, Anne, Richard, John, Thomas and Sarah being children of Ambrose Hundley deceased, Richard Hundley (who lived in Kershaw District, South Carolina) and Absalom Hundley (long removed from Virginia), the said Ambrose, Richard and Absalom children of Ambrose Hundley and Mary his wife who was Mary Ryland, a sister of the full blood to Richard Ryland [although family Bible records indicate otherwise] and who married after the death of Ambrose a James Ferguson and moved to Kershaw District, South Carolina; Mary “Polly” Shelor (or Shetor, the name appearing both ways), Thomas Shelor, Joseph Shelor and Sally Gee who was Sally Shelor, the said Mary, Thomas, Joseph, and Sally being children of Elizabeth Shelor deceased who was married to Jacob Shelor, Thomas Ryland, John Ryland, Hundley Ryland, John Simmons and Nancy his wife who was Nancy Ryland, the said Thomas, John, and Hundley Ryland and Nancy Simmons and Elizabeth Shelor being children of Thomas Ryland deceased, a brother of the half blood to Richard Ryland; Thomas Jones who died without heir, Robert Jeffries and Elizabeth his wife who was Elizabeth Jones and who had previously married James McFarlane, Richard D. Dunn and Peggy his wife who was Peggy Jones, James Durham and Nancy his wife who was Nancy Jones, Patsy Jones and Betsy Jones, children of Joseph Jones deceased, Mary Thompson who was Mary Jones, Sophronia Jones a daughter of Richard Jones deceased, Benjamin Jones, and Coleman Jones and Susan his wife, the said Thomas, Elizabeth, Peggy, Sally, Nancy, Joseph, Mary, Richard, Benjamin and Susan being children of Elizabeth Jones deceased, a sister of the whole blood to Richard Ryland who had married Richard Jones; John Minter and Ann his wife who was Ann Ryland, a sister of the whole blood to Richard Ryland; Lewis Mickleburrough and Henrietta his wife who was Henrietta Haile, Joseph McTyre and Polly his wife who was Polly Haile, Joseph Haile and Jonathan Haile, the said Henrietta, Polly, Joseph and Jonathan being children of Sally Haile, deceased, wife of Wheeler Haile and who was Sally Croxton, a daughter of Thomas Croxton and Sarah his wife who was Sarah Ryland, a sister of the whole blood to Richard Ryland (the said Thomas and Sarah also having had children Joseph, Thomas, Richard, Susan (who married a Miller) and Mary who have been long removed from Virginia); Lewis Whittemore and Jane his wife who was Jane Ryland and Wyatt Whittemore and Nancy his wife who was Nancy Ryland, the said Jane and Nancy being children of John Ryland a brother of the whole blood to Richard Ryland; George and Samuel Durham, children of Mary Durham deceased who was Mary Faucett, a daughter of Rice Faucett and Susannah his wife who was Susannah Ryland, a sister of the whole blood to Richard Ryland; Edward, Allen, Joseph, Samuel, Elizabeth and Polly Ryland and Joseph Tellman (also Tillman) and Sally his wife who was Sally Ryland, the said Edward, Allen, Joseph, Samuel, Elizabeth, Polly and Sally being children of Iverson Ryland deceased, a brother of the whole blood to Richard Ryland; Josiah Ryland, a brother of the half blood to Richard Ryland who is still living; Parker Tod Hunter and Catharine his wife who was Catharine Ryland, Joseph Barnett and Elizabeth his wife who was Elizabeth Ryland, John, James, Edwin and Joanna Ryland, the said Catharine, Elizabeth, John, James, Edwin and Joanna being children of Joseph Ryland who died in Kentucky, a brother of the half blood to Richard Ryland; and Jacob Tod Hunter and Joanna his wife who was Joanna Ryland, a sister of the half blood to Richard Ryland. The property was divided and distributed by 14 June 1827. [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 35, many items in Folder J.]
On 26 August 1834, L. Young of Kershaw District, South Carolina, provided an affidavit concerning Mary’s son Richard Hunley and his family that stated in part: “Having been desired by my neighbour Capt Richard Hunley, to state a few facts incidental to his own history, to show that he is the very person that has been recognized by his relations and other concerned, as one of the heirs of Richard Ryland late of Essex County, Virginia, deceased, I proceed to certify, that I have been acquainted with Capt Richard Hunley about thirty years, and have been an intimate neighbor with him more than twenty years, during which time I have heard him mention several incidents of his own history, some of which are, that his father was a seafaring man and died on one of the West India Islands many years ago, and that he left a widow and several children living in Virginia, and the greater part of them, I think, were older than Richard. The widow (Richard Hunley’s mother) married a gentleman by the name of James Ferguson who moved to this neighborhood with his wife and her two sons Richard and Absalom, when they (the sons) were youths or boys. I was acquainted with Mr Ferguson also, and know that he lived to a great age: I think he must have been ninety years of age or thereabout, when he died. The account that I frequently heard Capt Richard Hunley give of his own age makes him sixty six years old, about this time. I have often heard Capt Hunley speak of his relatives in Essex County Va.” [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 35, item 35-J-18.]
Spouses
Birthbef 1748
Death1771, West Indies
OccupationMariner